Dawson was brilliant, Fryatt showed he was a different class, Stewart looked back to his best causing them all sorts of problems, the only way is up!
Our front 4 were all class today, Fryatt and McLean don't need any explanation, Stewart wasn't quite back to his christmas form but he was better, Koren looked good but I still think he has more to offer. Evans is looking more and more comfortable in the middle being our 'main' central midfielder. Gerrard and Chester were solid as usual, Dawson looked absolute class, like a white Rosenior. I've not seen that Dawson since League 2. Guzan was solid when called upon (hardly ever) and the only weak link (as expected) was McShane. He gave away the free kick for the goal, and got pulled all over the place like he does. Barmby adds something extra from the bench and Belaid made some nice touches when he came on, including the corner for the last goal!
We have a quality squad, and we're a good side.
Anyone agree with me yet?
Mcshane was good for me. Yes he gave away that free kick otherwise I thought he was solid. If there was a weak link today it was Gerrard (who agrees with me there)
Somebody mentioned on another thread that Gerrard called his performance today a 'nightmare'. Personally he looked fine to me, but we were opened up a couple of times in the first half and their strikers messed it up on both occasions, it might have been down to him, I can't even remember. As for McShane, he just has a habit of always being in a 'chasing' sort of position, desperately trying to get to his own position where he should already be.
Yeah he tweeted it. He also mentioned that macca was solid. I think macca's one of these players that gives off the impression that he's appalling but is actually quite under rated (mouyokolo gave off this impression imo). He does actually put in some solid performances, however he does tend to make that one mistake. Which usually ends up in the opposition scoring.
I always say you can't have an inconsistent defender. Stewart for example can have a real quiet game and he just gets taken off, but if a defender makes any mistake, you're a goal down. That was the biggest problem with PB's defence, too many error-prone players who would spend their time charging back to where they should already be (McShane, Zayatte, Gardner, Sonko). Nowadays we only have McShane left in that mould, the rest of them are all consistently solid and that's why he's 2nd or 3rd choice.
He does actually put in some solid performances, however he does tend to make that one mistake. Which usually ends up in the opposition scoring.
Mcshane isn't inconsistent. He always makes mistakesI see where you're coming from but I think people are far too quick to criticize Mcshane when in a matter of fact, he's played alright
Defenders making mistakes, especially at regular intervals, is a bad thing and makes them bad at their job.